Dividing strip for cement flooring



1929. B. D. TRAITEL 1,723,825

DIVIDING STRIP FOR CEMENT FLOORING Filed Nov. 17, 1927 J, I r a I a W/ W W al I VENTOR fifN/4M/ a 7707/ TEL ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 6, 1929.

UNITED- STATES BENJAMIN D. TBAITEL, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

I DIVIDDTG STRIP FOR CEMENT FLOORING.

Application filed November 17, 1927; Serial No. 234,004.

The main purpose of the present invention is to provide dividing strips adapted to be used for laying floorings of cement construction, and especially to provide a dividing strip simple in construction and inexpensive incest that can be readily laid in cement fioorings and produce the finished appearance found in terrazzo floorings at a cost considerably less than that of terrazzo work.

That, and other objects of the invention, is accomplished by the means illustrated in the accompanying drawings and hereinafter described as the preferred embodiment ofthe invention.

It is to be understood, however, that changes, modifications and alterations may be made therein without departing from the invention herein described and claimed.

In the drawings,

Figure 1 is a plan of a section of a cement flooring embodying the invention.

Figure 2 is a diagrammatic view taken partly on the line 2-2 of Figure 1, showing a dividing strip partly in side elevation, and partly in cross section, and in dotted lines, applied to the underbed or foundation, and the upperbed or finishing layer of a cement flooring.

Fi ure 3 is an enlarged side elevation of the divi ing strip-shown in Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a cross section of the strip shown in Figure 3, taken on the line 44.

Figure 5, is a side elevation of the body portion of the dividing strip shown in Figure 3.

Figure 6 is a side elevation of the body portion of a strip embodying a modification of the invention.

Figure 7 is a side elevation of the body portion of the strip shown in Figure 6, with a reinforcing bar attached, and

Figure 8 is a cross section of the strip shown in Figure 7 taken on the line 88.

Fi ure 9 is a view similar to that shown in Flgure 4 enlarged.

As illustrated in the drawings, 1 represents the upper bed or layer of a cement flooring divided into sections by dividing strips.

The'sections may if desired be surrounded by a border 2, of the same material as the top layer of the flooring of different coloring, or the same coloring and different material, such as terrazzo, or marble mosaic.

The top layer 1 is applied upon an underbed 3 of relative coarser mixture of sand and cement than that of the top layer 1.

The dividing strip shown in Figure 2, comprises a body 4 having openings 5 near its upper margin forming narrow bands 6 that are gripped by the lower margin of the sides of a reinforcing bar 7, and compressed into said openings as indicated in Figures 4 and 9.

The bar is provided with a channel to receive the upper edge of the bodyof the strip.

By means of such construction the reinforcing bar is firmly secured to the body of the strip, and a strip is provided of the lightest structure possible, but suificient to perform to the full extent its functions as a dividing strip.

The reinforcing bar or upper portion of the entire strip that is exposed on the wearing surface of the flooring is thereby made heavy enough to withstand all the uses to which floors of the character stated are sub 75 jected.

These strips are made of brass, zinc or other non-corrosive material and it is therefore important to provide a strip of minimum weight and of maximum efiiciency; v

: The upper edge of the body of the strip is preferably continuous and straight so as to be gripped evenly throughout its length by the reinforcing bar.

The body of the strip is also provided with openings 8 through which the material form ing the upper or top layer of the flooring extends as shown in Figure 2, thereby-connecting adjacent sections of the top layer together.

The material of the to layer so extending through the openings 8, orm a lock joint between said sections and hold the strip in place a ainst vertical displacement.

The ower margin of theistrip is provided with anchors 9 designed to be inserted into the lower layer or underbed 3 as shown in Fi ure 2.

hese anchors are preferably flat so as to lie in the plane of the body of the strip and their edges, 10 and 11, are preferably inclined so that said edges will aid in holding the strip against any upward displacement in the underbed.

anchors 9, are preferably inclined so as to aid in pressing the anchors into the underbed while the underbed is in a semi-plastic condition.

The means hereinbefore described for se- 5 curing the reinforcing bar to the body of the l strip are preferably employed where it is desired to use a bar of substantial width, and where thebo'dy of the strip is of maximum width.

Where, however, the strip is designed to be used on floorings having a top layer of about, or below, average thickness and consequentlv a narrower reinforcing bar is used, the construetion shown in Figures 6 and 7 may preferably be employed.

In such constructions the openings 5 shown in the upper margin of the strips shown in Figure 5 may be dispensed with, inasmuch as the upper margins of the openings in the strips of Figures 6 and 7 may be arranged close enough to the upper edge of the strip to form narrow bands or necks 13, which may be readily gripped by the sides of the reinforcing bar 7 as shown in Figure 7 where the sides of said bar are shown swaged down, and partially under, said bars 13, thereby firmly gripping the bodv of the strip.

After the underbed 3 is laid in a continuous sheet or layer and while in asemi-plastic condition, the upper bed or finishing coat may be laid, also in a continuous layer, and while in a semiplastie conditionthe strips may be forced into the top layer and underbed by means of a follower or setting tool of any well known construction, until the upper surfaces of the reinforcing bars are even with the surface of the top layer of material.

The upper surface of the top layer may then be finished off in the usual manner, and any projecting portions of the reinforcing bars may be ground down even with the surface of the concrete.

The ease and facility with which a concrete flooring may be laid in continuous courses, and the dividing strips of the construction shown applied after the under-bed and top layers have been so laid results in a flooring costing little more than an ordinary cement flooring but having a finished surface and a pleasing appearance comparing favorably with a terrazzo flooring that can be produced only at a cost considerably greater than a cement flooring of the character produced by the means herein shown and described.

Vhat I claim is:

1. A dividing strip for use in cement floorings, comprising a thin, flat, metallic body provided with means for anchoring said body in the material of said flooring, and a channeled reinforcing bar engaging one edge of said body and swaged thereto, and provided with an uninterrupted upper surface of greater width than the thickness of said body, and adapted to form part of the finished surface of said flooring.

2. A dividing strip for use in cement floorings, comprising a thin, flat, metallic body provided with openings having their upper margin near the upper edge of said body and with means for anchoring said body in the material forming said flooring, and a channeled reinforcing bar engaging the upper edge of said body and swaged thereto at said openings and provided with an uninterrupted upper surface of greater width than the thickness of said body, and adapted to form part of the finished surface of said flooring.

' BENJ. D. TRAITEL. 

